"Last year was excellent and I think this year will be even better," said "Biggo the Clown," a street performer from Port Richmond heading to the parade to supply spectators with balloons.

"It's a great time to get together with friends," said Jessica Caracciolo, heading to the parade for the second time. "You see everybody you know at the parade."

Earlier this month, Bloomberg got a less than warm welcome at a St. Patricks' Day parade in Queens. Some parade-goers were angry about the mayor's joke last month that he usually saw "people that are totally inebriated" at the American Irish Historical Society in Manhattan. Bloomberg apologized shortly after making the comment.